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This test consists of 5 short answer questions, 10 short essay questions, and 1 (of 3) essay topics.

Short Answer Questions

1. How does Jordan wound a man?

2. What does Alexandra think of Hawthorne?

3. What is the Duchess' main complaint about Alexandra?

4. What does Alexandra do after she recovers from her fall off her horse.

5. Where do Jordan and Alexandra go after everyone has left?

Short Essay Questions

1. How does Mrs. Lawrence see this episode as an opportunity?

2. What happens nine years later that makes Jordan decide to stop having sexual relations with married women?

3. How does Alexandra change physically over the next few months?

4. What does Alexandra immediately ask when the party arrives at Hawthorne and how does she occupy her time at Hawthorne?

5. Where does Alexandra go right after the conversation with her mother about Will Helmsley?

6. What does Alexandra bemoan as she is riding in the carriage?

7. What happens to Jordan when he leaves the Fair Winds to buy cigars and what does Alexandra do??

8. What does Jordan say about women when he hears Lady's Catherine's indifference?

9. How does Alexandra try to comfort the Dowager Duchess?

10. What does Jordan's family learn about his whereabouts on the third day of waiting for news?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Something Wonderful ends on a happy note. Discuss the following:

1. Why do you think many (most?) people want what they perceive as a happy or good ending to a novel? Explain your opinion. Do you? Why or why? not?

2. What are at least three reasons to read fiction? Discuss each one in light of Something Wonderful and if it fulfills some or all of the reasons you mention. Give examples as to why Something Wonderful is or is not successful in fulfilling the reasons you discuss.

3. Do you think reading solely for entertainment is as good a reason to read as any other? Why or why not? Can any work of fiction or non-fiction, no matter how poorly written, enlighten, teach, stimulate thought? Why or why not?

4. Would you have wished the ending to be different? Why or why not? Would that have changed what the author wished to convey with the book?

Essay Topic 2

Plots are sometimes said to be either character-driven or action-driven. Discuss the following:

1. What do you think it means to say that a plot is character driven? Action driven?

2. How do you think a plot differs if it is character driven versus action driven?

3. Which type of plot do you find more interesting? Why?

4. Do you think Something Wonderful is more character-driven or action-driven? Or balanced between the two? Explain.

Essay Topic 3

Discuss the following:

1. What is a plot? What are the most important elements of a plot and their definition? Do all novels have a plot? Why or why not?

2. Write a brief synopsis of the plot of Something Wonderful, identifying where the various elements of the plot occur (Exposition, rising action, climax, falling action, resolution or denouement). Do you find it difficult to identify the plot? Why or why not? What about the various elements of the plot?

3. Identify the major sub-plots and their elements (They may not contain every element of a major plot). Do the sub-plots add to the main plot? Why or why not. Are the sub-plots interesting in and of themselves? Why or why not.

(see the answer keys)

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